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•CHESTNUT TREE (Hebrews ’armon; i.e., “naked”), mentioned in connection with Jacob’s artifice regarding the cattle (Genesis 30:37). It is one of the trees of which, because of its strength and beauty, the Assyrian empire is likened (Ezekiel 31:8; R.V., “plane trees”). It is probably the Oriental plane tree (Platanus orientalis) that is intended. It is a characteristic of this tree that it annually sheds its outer bark, becomes “naked.” The chestnut tree proper is not a native of Palestine.
•CHESULLOTH fertile places; the loins, a town of Issachar, on the slopes of some mountain between Jezreel and Shunem (Joshua 19:18). It has been identified with Chisloth-tabor, 2 1/2 miles to the west of Mount Tabor, and north of Jezreel; now Iksal.
•CHEZIB deceitful, a town where Shelah, the son of Judah, was born (Genesis 38:5). Probably the same as Achzib (q.v.).
•CHIDON dart, the name of the threshing-floor at which the death of Uzzah took place (1 Chronicles 13:9). In the parallel passage in Samuel (2 Samuel 6:6) it is called “Nachon’s threshing-floor.” It was a place not far north-west from Jerusalem.
•CHIEF OF THE THREE a title given to Adino the Eznite, one of David’s greatest heroes (2 Samuel 23:8); also called Jashobeam (1 Chronicles 11:11).
•CHIEF PRIEST See PRIEST.
•CHILD This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. Thus Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Genesis 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (44:20). Solomon called himself a little child when he came to the kingdom (1 Kings 3:7).
The descendants of a man, however remote, are called his children; as, “the children of Edom,” “the children of Moab,” “the children of Israel.”
In the earliest times mothers did not wean their children till they were from thirty months to three years old; and the day on which they were weaned was kept as a festival day (Genesis 21:8; Exodus 2:7, 9; 1 Samuel 1:22-24; Matthew 21:16). At the age of five, children began to learn the arts and duties of life under the care of their fathers (Deuteronomy 6:20-25; 11:19).
To have a numerous family was regarded as a mark of divine favour (Genesis 11:30; 30:1; 1 Samuel 2:5; 2 Samuel 6:23; Psalm 127:3; 128:3).
Figuratively the name is used for those who are ignorant or narrow-minded (Matthew 11:16; Luke 7:32; 1 Corinthians 13:11). “When I was a child, I spake as a child.” “Brethren, be not children in understanding” (1 Corinthians 14:20). “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro” (Ephesians 4:14).
Children are also spoken of as representing simplicity and humility (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). Believers are “children of light” (Luke 16:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5) and “children of obedience” (1 Peter 1:14).